WHITE PLAINS—The New York Power Authority (NYPA) trustees on Tuesday approved a two-year competitive contract award worth $5.5 million to Edbauer Construction of West Seneca, N.Y., to implement a comprehensive plan to upgrade and enhance the facilities, roadways and parking lots that connect NYPA’s Niagara Hydroelectric Power Plant and the Niagara University Campus.

The shared campus initiative includes the realignment and reconstruction of roads and parking lots, covering approximately 20 acres of shared property between the two campuses. Specifically, the project will improve lighting, grading and drainage on the roads and will also include the construction of a mile-long bicycle and pedestrian path that will connect NYPA’s Power Vista visitors center with Reservoir State Park.

The project will also add three security cameras to enhance the safety of NYPA visitors and students in the shared Power Vista parking lots. As part of the project, the university entranceway will be redesigned and enhanced with a new rock wall sign, including lighting and plantings.

“From the standpoint of safety and security alone this is a great project, and it has the added benefit of opening up access to a host of recreational activities, that I myself am planning to take full advantage of,” said Harry Francois, NYPA Western New York regional manager. “We are especially pleased that the improvements are being undertaken by a local business.”

“The Power Authority has always been a great neighbor to Niagara University and this project is just one example of the ways in which the university has benefited from that relationship,” said the Rev. Joseph L. Levesque, C.M., president of Niagara University. “We are particularly grateful to have the Power Authority’s support with these much needed improvements to this infrastructure and our shared roadways.”

“We appreciate the opportunity to work on this project which will benefit the university and the many visitors to the Power Authority’s visitors center,” said Bill Bauer, president, Edbauer Construction. “Our work with the Power Authority started in 2007 and has allowed our business to grow and thrive in Western New York and has also permitted us to channel significant economic benefits to a number of western NY firms we subcontract with for trucking, electrical and other needs outside our core business.”

In addition to supplying low-cost Niagara hydropower to Niagara University, NYPA and Niagara University have a relationship that spans more than half a century. Under an agreement in connection with the 2007 federal relicensing of the Niagara Hydroelectric, NYPA established a $9.5 million capital fund to be used at the discretion of the university; established a landscaping development fund worth $1 million; and transferred ownership of approximately 24 acres of vacant land to the university.

Work on the Shared Campus Initiative is expected to begin this summer and conclude by the end of 2014.

About NYPA:

The New York Power Authority uses no tax money or state credit. It finances its operations through the sale of bonds and revenues earned in large part through sales of electricity. ■ NYPA has been designated as the lead entity via Executive Order 88 by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo to form a central management and implementation plan to carry out his Build Smart NY plan to reduce energy use by state facilities by 20 percent by 2020. ■ NYPA is the nation's largest state public power organization, through the operation of its 16 generating facilities in various parts of New York State, participation in a unique public/private partnership to contract for power from a clean generating plant in Queens, and its operation of more than 1,400 circuit-miles of transmission lines. ■ More than 70 percent of the electricity NYPA produces is clean renewable hydropower. Its lower-cost power production and electricity purchases support hundreds of thousands of jobs throughout the state.■ For more information visit www.nypa.gov and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Wordpress and @NYPAenergy on Twitter.

About Niagara University:

Founded by the Vincentian Community in 1856, Niagara University is a private liberal arts university with a strong, values-based Catholic tradition. Its four academic divisions include the colleges of Arts and Sciences, Business Administration, Education, and Hospitality and Tourism Management. The university also maintains an Academic Exploration Program that provides a learning community for students who are undecided about their major. Located on the Niagara River overlooking the Province of Ontario, Canada, the university is situated at the northern limits of the City of Niagara Falls, N.Y., about four miles from the world-famous cataracts. More than 3,800 students are enrolled in its undergraduate and graduate programs.